Variable pitch tilting seat and backrest mounting



Sept. '8, 1959 5. J.' REPAICH 2,903,046

VARIABLE PITCH TILTING SEAT AND BACKREST MOUNTING Filed Oct. 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I. I2 I I 1 II l J 1 l3 q l i II I \\ l I I2 FIG. 5. 9

INVENTOR STEVE I. REPAICH 77M vk/w ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1959 S. J. REPAICH VARIABLE PITCH TILTING SEAT AND BACKREST MOUNTING Filed Oct. 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 7:!v

INVENTOR STEVIE J. REPAICH WM v/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent C 2,903,646 VARIABLE PITCH TILTING SEAT AND BACKREST MOUNTlN G Steve I. Repaich, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Cali- Quilt Furniture Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a

This invention has to do generally with lounge chairs and the like embodying a tilting seat and backrest and :more particularly with means for linking the seat and backrest frames and mounting them on the base.

7 An object of the invention is to provide a novel. mount ing construction for a chair seat frame and a connected seat action while allowing for tilting of the seat and backrest frames as a unit relative to the base of the chair.

A more general object is to provide 'such amounting or connecting construction Which is suitable for use in backrest frame which provides a floating or semi-floating other environments for connecting two members for limited pivotal movement relative to each other and for pivotal movement together relative to a third member. More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a construction for pivotally supporting the back- 'r'est and seat frame of a tiltable lounge chair or the like wherein the seat is pivotally mounted upon a pair of bearing members which in turn are pivotally mounted upon the base of the chair, together with novel linkage means for connecting the bearing members and the backrest frame which in turn is pivotally mounted upon the seat frame to permit of a forward floating movement of the seat as the backrest frame is pivoted relative to the seat frame.

These and other objects Will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a chair frame structure embodying the invention, the backrest frame having been broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the mounting construction in the same plane as Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views on lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line s s of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a keeper.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 generally indicates a base frame of the chair. This may comprise a pair of quadrilateral side frames 12 connected by suitable cross members 13. The base is designed to be substantially rigid and includes two posts 14 one on each side upon which is a transversely extending horizontal bar or tube 15 which may be secured to the posts by welds 16.

Mounted between the side frames 12 of the base is a rectangular seat frame 18 at the rear of which is pivotally connected a backrest frame 20, the parts being pivotally connected at each side, as by rivets 21.

The seat frame and backrest frame are pivotally mounted upon the base in a manner to be described. I

ice

provide two laterally spaced bearing assemblies 23 upon the tube or bar 15. Each of these comprises a bearing block 24 which may be of wood as shown and provided with a downwardly facing notch 25 which fits over the tube 15. The bearing block is supported in a housing formed by an inner plate 28 and an outer plate 30. The inner plate has a laterally offset central wall portion 31, connecting end walls 32, and ears 33 provided with slots 34. The two plates are adjustably secured by bolts 35. Plate 28 has a downwardly facing vertical recess 37 and plate 30, a recess 38 to freely accommodate the tube 15. To secure the block 24 in the housing I provide an inwardly bent tab 40 on the outer plate and a' keeper 41 (Fig. 9) which passes through opposing slots (not shown) in the end walls of housing element.

Each side of the seat frame 18 is provided with a bracket plate 44 which is welded in place. The bracket plate is pivotally connected to plate 30 of the adjacent ,housing means 23 as by means of a bolt 47 (Fig. 4) and a suitable self-locking nut 48.

At each side of the chair and backrest frames I provide alink 50 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the backrestframe by a bolt or rivet 51. The lower end ofthe link ispivotally secured to plate 30 by suitable means, such as bolt 52 and self-locking nut 53. The link is provided with an arcuate slot 55 in the region where it crosses the seat frame for the reception of a pin 56 of any suitable type. The pin 56 and slot 55 limit the travel of the parts. The pin is shown as a bolt extending through a hole 57 in the seat frame and provided with a self-locking nut 58 and suitable washers 59 (Fig. 8).

The b ackrest frame is urged forwardly by means of a pair of tension springs designated 60, one spring being associated with each link 50. Each spring has its upper end 61 secured through an eye portion 62 in the link and its opposite end 63 hooked through a hole 64 in the seat frame 18.

At the forward end of the seat frame I show a pivotally mounted foot rest 70 and a linkage means 71 for causing the foot rest to move upwardly when the seat frame is tilted backwardly. The means 71 also serves to limit tilting of the seat and backrest frames relative to the base. This linkage means forms no part of the present invention and is fully disclosed and claimed in my pending application entitled Lounge Chair With Leg Rest, Serial No. 593,462, filed June 25, 1956.

In the operation of the device the chair parts are shown in the normal upright position in Fig. 1. A person may sit in the chair, lean back against the backrest and simultaneously thrust forward on the forward part of the seat, thereby causing the seat to pivot forwardly and causing the back to move backward a limited amount as shown in Fig. 6. During this movement the seat frame 18 moves forwardly somewhat as the bearing members pivot about the supporting tube 15, thereby throwing the pivotal axis of the connection between the seat frame and the bearing members forward of its original position. It will also be apparent that the seat frame and backrest may be tiltedv as a unit backwardly a considerable distance from that in which it is shown in any of the views of the drawing.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a mounting construction for a pair of pivotally connected elements, a support, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said support, a first element to be supported pivotally mounted on said bearing member adjacent the pivotal axis of the bearing member on the support, a second element to be supported pivotally mounted on said first element at a point remote from said bearing memher, a link pivotally mounted at one end on said second element and pivotally mounted at its other end on said bearing member adjacent the pivotal axis of the bearing member on the support and the pivotal axis of the first element on the bearing member, said link and said first and second elements being triangular-1y related withsaid link forming the long side of the triangle, said pivotal axes all being parallel, and interengaging guide means onsaid link and said first element limiting travel of the parts.

2. In a mounting construction for a pair of pivotally connected elements, a support, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said support, a first element to be supported pivotally mounted on said bearing member adjacent the pivotal axis of the bearing member on the support, a second element to be supported pivotally mounted on said first element at a point remote from said bearing member, a link pi'votallymounted at one end on said second element and pivotally mounted at its other end on said bearing member adjacent the pivotal axis of the bearing member on the support and the pivotal axis of the first element on the bearing member, said link and said first and second elements being triangularly re lated with said link forming the long side of the triangle, said pivotal axes all being parallel, and a slidable guide connection between said first element and said link in a region between the axis of pivotal mounting of said first element on said bearing member and the axis of pivotal mounting of said second element on said first element limiting travel of the parts, and means limiting relative movement between one of said elements to be supported andsaid support.

3. A construction as set forth in claim 2 in which a spring is connected between certain of the parts in a manner to urge the same in a direction to reduce the. angle formed by the intersection of said first and second elements.

4. A construction as set forth in claim 2 in which said support forms a part of the base of a chair and in which said first element comprises a chair seat frame and said second element comprises a chair backrest frame.

5. In a tilting lounge chair, a base, a seat frame, a backrest frame hingedly connected to said seat frame, a pair of bearing members mounted in laterally spaced relation on said base for pivotal movement about a common horizontal axis, pivotal connection means between each of said bearing members and said seat frame about an axis parallel and adjacent to said first-mentioned axis, means between said seat frame and said base limiting movement of said seat frame relative to said base, a pair of laterally spaced links connected at their upper ends to said backrest frame above the hinge axis between said seat and backrest frames, pivotal connection means between the other ends of said links and said bearing members, respectively, said last-mentioned pivotal connection means being adjacent and re'arwardly of said horizontal axis and the axis of pivotal connection between said seat frame and said bearing members, and apin-and-slot connection between each of said links and said seat frame in a region intermediate the pivotal connection between said seat frame and said bearing members and thehinge connection between said seat frame and said backrest frame.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 5 in which .a

spring is connected between each link and said seat frame in a manner to urge said backrest forwardly relative to said seat frame. i

Burchall Oct. 11, 1938 Jones Jan. 31, 1956 

